Mother whose daughter was killed on the same stretch of road that wiped out a family of four writes

A mother whose daughter was killed on the stretch of road that claimed the lives of a family of four has written a poignant open letter.

Carol Hadman's daughter Grace was just 17 when she died in a crash on the A34 in 2007. This week mother Tracy Houghton, her sons Ethan, 13, and Josh, 11, and her partner's 11-year-old daughter Aimee Goldsmith, were killed in a horrific eight-vehicle pile-up on the same road near Newbury, Berkshire. 

Moved by the tragedy, Mrs Hadman penned a letter to the surviving parents, saying that while her family's loss was 'almost beyond endurance' theirs 'is multiplied beyond her imagination'.

Ethan Houghton, left, Aimee Goldsmith, centre, and Josh Houghton, right, died alongside Tracy Houghton in the eight-car pile-up on the A34 near Newbury, Berkshire

Shared grief: Carol Hadman's daughter Grace, 17, above, died in a crash on the A34 in 2007

A total of four cars and four lorries were involved in the collision on the A34 on Wednesday

Speaking with heartbreaking poignancy of her own grief Mrs Hadman wrote: 'Somehow people imagine you will 'get over it'. There is no such thing for me - and probably that's true for most others who experience a tragedy. We have to learn to get through it; we feel we can never be happy again.' 

But sharing a message of hope with Aimee's parents, Katherine and Mark Goldsmith, and Ethan and Josh's father Douglas Houghton, Mrs Hadman added: 'I do want to say that it is extraordinary that one somehow does find the means to endure and meet such terrible loss - and go on.

Ms Houghton and the three children were killed when their car was crushed by a lorry in the massive crash on the 'accident blackspot' near Newbury, Berkshire. 

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Ms Houghton's partner Mark Goldsmith and his son Jake, 13, who were following behind in another car, suffered minor injuries. 

Earlier today it emerged that their beloved dog Honey the Labrador also survived the crash, walking away from the mangled wreckage where her owners had died. 

Flowers and cards were left outside the family's home in Dunstable, Bedfordshire today. 

Sue Archer, 59, who works in administration, had lived next door to Ms Houghton's mother's home for 30 years.

She said: 'It didn't matter who you were, she always had the time to say hello.

'I used to see her oldest son every morning when he went to school. He would always say good morning too.'

She said it took her a day for Ms Houghton's death to sink in after she first heard of the crash on Facebook on Thursday.

'It wasn't until this morning that I realised who it was. I couldn't believe it, I've just lost another friend.'

Distraught: Ms Houghton's partner Mark Goldsmith, pictured together, was following in the car behind with his son Jake, 13

Honey the golden Labrador, pictured, survived the horrific crash that killed her owners

LETTER FROM CAROL HADMAN TO PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN DIED ON SAME ROAD AS HER OWN DAUGHTER

My heart is breaking for you as I think of all you have lost. I cannot presume to imagine your anguish but I remember only too well the sickening horror, the disbelief, the impossibility of understanding the magnitude of that horror, when the police came to tell me that our daughter (Grace, 17) had died in a car accident. I thought I would go mad but, because my husband's reaction was frighteningly extreme, suddenly I had to switch from desperately thinking of Grace, and all that was tumbling through my head, to looking after him - when all I wanted to do was think about Grace. She had left on Monday night, saying she would be back by 1pm on Tuesday. Those were her last words to me.

Somehow people imagine you will 'get over it'. There is no such thing for me - and probably that's true for most others who experience a tragedy. We have to learn to get through it; we feel we can never be happy again. The minute I might feel a little happiness, Grace comes into my mind and so I am sad again. I should have been overjoyed at the birth of our first grandson but I took refuge privately in the loo to cry my heart out realising Grace had been my last baby and that she wasn't here to be the most wonderful aunt she would have been.

We have to learn to live with a tragedy like this. I think of Grace many times every day. It still knocks me back. I was lucky that a complete stranger (now a dear friend) was moved enough to offer to make a website for Grace. It has helped me and those who love Grace, also some who never knew her, to share our feelings, sadness, memories, love.

At the time, I knew I was lucky.....I was overwhelmingly thankful that we still have our wonderful three sons. Our loss was almost beyond endurance and yours is multiplied beyond my imagination. But, I do want to say that it is extraordinary that one somehow does find the means to endure and meet such terrible loss - and go on. Myself, I remember the numbness of disbelief, the business of coping with all there is to do, the exhaustion of not sleeping and longing for the night to be day, but hardly bearing the day, the extreme dry mouth I got (apparently from shock).....you may feel all of these too. Looking ahead seems impossible, they say the grieving process takes eighteen months....that seemed an unbearable eternity to me and there is no way anyone can put a time limit on it in my view.

We talk of Grace all the time, we do lots that includes her...we go punting every year on her birthday as we always did....lots of things just keep her with us.

Please have a look at Grace's website one day if you think, in any way, it might help you and all those affected so deeply by your dreadful loss.

'Thinking of you so much. Praying for you to find courage.

Carol Hadman

Gemma Eves, 30 , who has worked at New Images hair salon opposite Ms Houghton's home for nine years, paid tribute to the family.

The 30-year-old said: 'She came in here a few times.

'She was a lovely person, she was really friendly and bubbly.

'I've seen her kids grow up. It's a real shame and tragic that it's happened. They were a really nice family.'

Miss Houghton's devastated mother Jo Smith yesterday said the family were 'in bits'. She wrote on Facebook: 'I'm so sad to say I am the mother and grandmother to all involved in this terrible accident. Half my family wiped out in one go.'

The rush-hour pile up, involving four lorries and four cars, left a total of 12 people injured.

Police arrested a 30-year-old lorry driver from Andover, Hampshire, at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving before releasing him on bail.  

Ms Houghton – who had recently started a job with her local council – and the children are believed to have died instantly.

In her letter to the family, Ms Hadman said she remembers the 'sickening horror' and 'disbelief' she felt when the police came to tell her that Grace, a bright A-levels student, had died in a car accident. She revealed that since then her family have had to 'learn to live with a tragedy like this'. 

Ms Houghton was on her way back from a camping trip with her partner and their children

Ethan Houghton, pictured in a photo from 2011, was travelling with his mother and brother

The family were on their way back to the family home in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, pictured

Police closed a six-mile stretch of the northbound carriageway between Chieveley at junction 13 of the M4 and between the West Ilsley junction following the incident

She added that 'looking ahead seems impossible' but reassured the parents that they too would find a way to carry on.  

Speaking yesterday Ms Houghton's mother said Mr Goldsmith has been left 'in bits' after the accident.  

Mrs Smith said her daughter had only recently started a new job at Bedford Council, on the Dunstable street where she had lived since childhood.  

Neighbours said she was a 'hands on parent' and said her sons were 'lovely kids.' 

One neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: 'They would do anything for anyone.'

A close friend of Ms Houghton said she was a 'really lovely person'. 

Sarah Young, 53, said: 'She didn't deserve this. She deserved to live. Her boys were her life. It is just devastating. I cannot believe something it happened.

'It is just awful. I cannot get my head around it at the moment.'  

Victim: Tracy Houghton, 45, was killed alongside her sons Ethan, 13, and Josh, 11

She was described by neighbours as a 'hands on parent' who would 'do anything for anyone

Ms Houghton's team leader at Central Bedfordshire Council said: 'Tracy was a hugely likeable and bubbly person who was much admired by her colleagues, many of whom saw her also as a dear friend. Our thoughts and condolences are with her family.'

A spokeswoman for Central Bedfordshire Council said: 'This terrible news has come as a great shock to everyone who knew Tracy, who worked within our financial services team based in Dunstable.

'Tracy worked directly with our customers and was a dedicated and highly professional member of staff.' 

Dozens of emergency service workers were dispatched to the scene shortly after 5pm on Wednesday including specialist medics from the hazardous response unit.

One man injured in the collision was flown by air ambulance to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, where is is being treated for serious injuries. 

 Horrific: Police closed a six-mile stretch of road following the collision. A man was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and later bailed

One man injured in the collision was flown by air ambulance to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. Pictured, police at the scene

A man and a teenage boy were taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital by land ambulance with minor injuries and have since been discharged. 

A further nine people sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene. 

Police closed a six-mile stretch of the northbound carriageway between Chieveley at junction 13 of the M4 and between the West Ilsley junction following the incident. The road was reopened shortly after 6.30am this morning.  

Witnesses described the site of the accident as a 'blackspot'.  

Kylie Sear said: 'Just drove past the earlier accident on the A34 and saw all the emergency services there with the boards up from the fatalities.  

Dozens of emergency service workers were dispatched to the scene including specialist medics from the hazardous response unit. Pictured, police at the scene last night 

'Made all my hairs stand up. R.I.P their families. Makes you appreciate what you have. Never know what's going to happen.' 

Sara Dyche said: 'I have colleagues who drove past this yesterday and can't bring themselves to talk about it as it was so horrific. East Ilsley is a notorious black spot that needs to be invested in.'

Helen Dunsby missed the accident by moments and said: 'I'm feeling very lucky as I was only 10 minutes ahead with my husband and one-year-old son.

'It makes you realise how precious life is and how you should be thankful everyday. My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones.'  

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